Devil's Army

Chapter 1923 Battle of Chaoyang River 1

When the Japanese saw the two small planes flying over, they assumed they were the same two Golden Eagle 4 drones.

The infantry immediately sought cover and hid, while the tanks continued their rumbling charge toward the positions of the Second and Third Battalions.

At this moment, the tail flames of the four air-to-ground missiles under the bellies of the two Golden Eagle 3 UAVs ignited one after another.

Four air-to-ground missiles roared as they hurtled towards the four charging Japanese tanks.

A series of loud "boom" explosions rang out, and the four Japanese tanks that were charging forward were turned into four piles of scrap metal.

The Japanese major, who was observing the battle from a distance with binoculars, was also stunned.

Without the threat of Japanese tanks and artillery, the Fourth Battalion, which had just arrived to reinforce, quickly set up light and heavy machine guns and opened fire on the attacking Japanese infantry from their elevated position.

The Japanese infantrymen were driven to flee in panic by the fierce bullets.

The battle continued, and the commander of the Third Regiment ordered his subordinate troops to move into position, replacing the Second and Third Battalions, which had been fighting continuously for several days and were quite exhausted.

Over the next few days, the soldiers of the three regiments, who took turns fighting, held off the Japanese army's relentless attacks and prevented the Japanese troops in Puqi County from crossing even half a step into Jiangxi Province.

While the Japanese army in Puqi County (now Chibi City) was advancing south to attack the "Devil Troops," the Japanese army in Yangxin County also launched an attack on the soldiers of the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Brigade from Bengshan to Chaoyang River.

The Japanese army in Yangxin County made thorough preparations for this attack on Ruichang County.

(Ruichang County is only about 40 kilometers away from Jiujiang County)

When Yangxin County launched its attack, the artillery bombarded the positions of the Fourth Regiment on the south bank of the Chaoyang River for nearly half an hour.

Most of the defensive fortifications built by the Fourth Regiment along the river were destroyed by Japanese artillery fire.

While the Japanese artillery was still bombarding the area, Japanese infantrymen launched an assault on the south bank of the Chaoyang River in assault boats.

The soldiers of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 4th Regiment, deployed along the river, fiercely resisted the Japanese attack. However, due to the swiftness, ferocity, and speed of the Japanese offensive, most of the machine gun positions of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 4th Regiment were destroyed, making it difficult to establish an effective defensive line.

Although the soldiers of the Fourth Regiment fought bravely against the Japanese army's charge, the defensive line was still breached.

The 4th Regiment Commander urgently ordered the 4th Battalion, which was serving as the reserve force, and its directly subordinate units to rush to the rescue, to separate and block the three groups of Japanese troops that had broken through the defense line, so as to prevent them from joining forces.

The Third Regiment of the Third Brigade, which was on standby in Jiujiang County, also rushed to the aid of the Fourth Regiment.

The Japanese troops who broke through the Chaoyang River defense line engaged in a fierce battle with the soldiers of the Fourth Regiment on the shore, and the Japanese artillery was unable to play a role.

The Japanese major ordered the two units on the left flank that had broken through the defenses to converge on the central force, forming a combined force to advance towards Ruichang County.

However, the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 4th Regiment held off the Japanese breakout forces on both flanks, while the Japanese troops in the center were also held back by the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Regiment. The three Japanese forces were unable to rendezvous.

An air force squadron from Nanchang arrived shortly after and launched a fierce bombing and strafing attack on the Japanese assault boats charging on the Chaoyang River.

Three other bombers and one fighter from the First Army launched a fierce bombing raid on the Japanese artillery positions.

Under the intense bombing by the First Army Air Force, most of the Japanese assault boats on the Chaoyang River were destroyed.

Due to a lack of means of crossing the river, the Japanese troops on the north bank of the Chaoyang River were unable to cross.

The Japanese troops, having already crossed the river, were now isolated and deeply entrenched in enemy territory.

At this point, the Fourth Regiment, having adjusted its tactics, began to divide and encircle the three groups of Japanese troops crossing the river.